Lock type reset device



March 16, 1943.

P. G; ADAMS LOCK TYPE RESET DEvIcE Filed May '7; 1'941 2 sheets-sheet 1 Patented Mar. 16, 1943 LOCK TYPE RESET DEVICE Paul G. Adams, Bloomfield, N. J., assignor `to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a .corporation of Pennsylvania Application May' 7, 1941, serial No. 392,275

` 5 Claims.

` The present invention relates to reset devices and it has particular relation to such devices for operating the reset mechanism of watthour meter registers of the maximum demand type.

`In cumulative maximum demand registers such as those of the motor-driven reset type, the reset mechanism is generally brought into operation by manually depressing a control plunger.

The operation of this plunger results in interconnect-` Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section and with parts broken away of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing a key in operating position therein,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side View, partly in section and with parts broken away, of the reset operating device shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to a portion of Fig. 3 of a modified form of the apparatus,

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken along the line ing the maximum demand indicator in the cul0 V--V of Fig. 3, and mulative dials and substantially simultaneously Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a `modiiied connects these devices to be driven by the reset form of the invention. l motor, At the end of the resetting operation Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a these connections are automatically broken and meter assembly including a maximum demand the apparatus .is Ain condition for normal oper- 1,5 type register 2 enclosed within a casing including ation. v l a glass cover member ll.` The register 2 may be g According to the present invention a lock-cona motor reset type cumulative maximum demand trolled device is mounted on the casing or cover metersuch as that disclosedin the U. S. patent of the meter upon which the maximum demand application of Robert H. Lewis, et al.,y Serial No. register isl mounted ,so that operation of the 20 217,024, led July 1, 1938. This type of register `device from outside the casingY causes the reset includes a reset plunger 5. which, upon being plunger to be actuated. The lockispreferably momentary depressed, acts to couple a maximum such that a complete revolution of a key therein demand indicator A6 and cumulative demand `causes an operating member extending through register 1 while connecting these toY be driven `the metercover to` move inwardly for-this pur-25 by a reset motor. At the end of the resetting DOSe- `This actuating member iS biased S0 an 011i?- operation the resetting motor is automatically Ward position S0 that it Will immediately return disconnected and the connection between the to its -normal position and it is preferably resilimaximum demand indicator 5 and the Cumulaemily construfied S0 as. i101? ,'00 ,force ille register tive register dial 1 is simultaneously broken, plunger past lts normal innermost posltion. The 30 It will be understood than the glass Cover "4 leek s'p'efelably arranged for movement in Only is secured tothe casing of the watthour meter :one dlrectlon and is such thatl the key cannot in a manner Wen knownmin the art and that a be withdrawn` prior to completion of a complete Sealing gasket' is preferably disposed thm-eherevolution. f l l tween. Y Y V j It 'is accordingly an object of the present i n- 35 An opening 3 is provided in the @over 4 adja ventlon to' provlde` a noveland improveddevlce Cent to the end of the resa-,plunger 5 and a for actuating the ree'tmechamsmof an electn' reset device l0, in accordance with'the present Cal meter from Outslde th? cove? thfireof l invention, is secured thereto with .an operating c.inother obJect of the invention ls to provide plunger I2 extending throughjhe opening A u 'heelgecseerlfgng let 40 reset button I3 is threaded ,tu the end of uns watthour metelr) in response to the rotation of a punger '2.1159 that all, am tmoion of e key in a lock outside the meter` casing. p uiler W1 t Cuse 5e u on o epress e A further object of the invention is to provide regls .er rese l? ungr 3 th 1 I2 f a 4maximum demand reset actuating` device in l5 hAlS 1s best s Own m1 g e linimge lfsf which the possibility of damaging the meter aso1 0W' construfztlon afmg e ma n por lon 0 1 s sembly or of carelessly failing to complete the length. extending to. lts oilter .end .and has an resetting operation are substantially eliminated. gigm itgevlvgeegdg miinliheng;

, Other objects and advantages of the invention v l l will appear 4from the following detailed descrip- 50 t0 reslhently Connect ltWith the end Oftrle s tud tion read in conjunction with the accompanying Thlnlullirrgli gfn Svlil ldrawings in which: l Se 01' e r 1' 1 Figure 1 is an elevational view of an electrical a sleeveportion l1 extendingl through the open- `watthour meter assembly embodying the present ine" 3 irl the meter COVeIl- An Olllel barrel 01 invention, l 55 housing I8 for the reset device is disposed about the inner barrel I6 and encloses a lock member at its outer end as at 20.

The lock member at is not shown in detail in the drawing because it may be any of several known constructions. The only requirements are that it be operable upon a complete,

type whereby the cam barrel can be rotated only in a counterclockwise direction.

The stud I4 is connected to a base member 28 which in Vturn includes a radially projecting pin n A spiral spring 32 is disposed with the device betweenthe surface ofthe inner barrel I6 and the Abase member 28 to bias the member outward- 'ly against the cam surface of the lbarrel 24 so that thevpin 38 will ride thereonduring its rotation; `f lhev inner barrel I6 includes an (axial groove 34 into which the end of the pin 38 extends so that the base 28 and stud I4 will receive only an axial movement'from. the Vcam shaped barrel 24 and will not be rotated thereby.

The inner barrel I6 and the housing I8 are secured together by diametrically displaced machine screws 38 and. the inner end of the tubular portion of the barrel member is preferably screw threaded as indicated at 39. The outer surface of the glass cover '4 is recessed or grooved at 48 to accommodate the heads of the machine screws 38 while a resilient gasket 4| is placed between the outer surface of the cover and the inner end of the housing` and barrel. An 'annular gasket 42 and washer 43 are disposed against the inner surface of the cover about an end of the tubular member I1 while a nut 44 is threaded thereto to secure the entire assembly in place on the cover.

The purpose of themachine screws 38 is to prevent any rotation of the device upon the cover during the operation of the lock and it will be evident that other methods of accomplishing this result might be employed. In Fig. 4, for example, this is done by grooving a portion of the opening 8 about the tubular portion I1 of the inner barrel so as to permit a pin 46 to be inserted therein.

From the above description, it is` believed that the installation of the device will be evident. It will appear that 'the assembly may be completed except .for the reset button I3 andthe nut 44 with its gasket and washer prior to the apparatus being positioned on the cover. After the device is disposed about the opening, it is only necessary to lapply these particular parts and secure the nut 44 vin place. Obviously the apparatus when secured in this manner cannot be removed from outside the casing.v v Y Y After such installation, the cover maybe assembled jupon the meter base in the usual manner `and the device is ready for operation. In making his monthly rounds, the meter reader merely inserts the key 22 in the lock and rotates' it through a complete revolution to perlform the reset operation. This action causes: the cam shaped barrel 24 to rotate through a complete revolution thus pushing the stud I4 inwardly to move the operating plunger I2 into engagement with the reset plunger I3. Upon the plunger I3 being fully depressed, further' movement of the stud I4 will be taken up by the spiral spring I5 so that no severe stress will be exerted onthe register or the cover. The importance of this feature will appear when it is realized that the register is of delicate construction while the cover will generally be of glass.

In Fig. 6. a modified form of the invention is shown. In this case rotation of the key in the lock at 41 causes an inner barrel member 48 to reciprocate within a housing member 58. This barrel member is biased outwardly through a.

spring' 52 which is compressed between it and the inner surface of the housing 50 while a base member 54 carrying a stud 56 is secured to the inner end of the barrel. 'I'his stud 56 extends through a cylindrical opening in an operating tube or plunger 58 while a split ring type spring 68 provides a resilient connection between these two members. v

The housing 58 includes a tubular portion 62 which extends through an opening 8' in the cover 4 in a mannersimilar to that previously described. A washer assembly 64 and nut 66 are employed for securing thedevice in place on the cover While the operating plunger' 58 eX- tends tothe inside of the cover vand has a reset button 68 on the end thereof.

This modied device is arranged to operate a meter plunger 5 in the saine manner as that previously described and preferably the lock is of a type which may be rotated in lonly a single `direction. It Will appear that the split ring spring member 68 will take up any movement of the base member 54 after the plunger 5 has reached its innermost portion to aord protection similar toA that resulting from the rst embodiment.`

From the above description it will be evident that the present invention provides a simple and reliable device `for actuating the reset mechanism of Va maximum demand meter. Since a complete revolution of the lock is required before Vthe Vkey can be withdrawn, the possibility that the meter reader will carelessly -fail to complete the resetting operation is eliminated. The use of the resilient connection between the lock and the operating plunger insures that no damage will be done to the register despite diiere'nces in mounting positions which frequently result 'from such factors as variations yin dimensions of the cover glass and of the gasketdis'posed between the cover and the meter base.

It will be evident that various modifications of the apparatus shown and described will appear to those skilled in the art `and for that reason, it is intended that the invention shall be limited onlyl by the appended claims interpreted in view of the prior art. Y

I claim as my invention: n

1. In combination with a register including a plunger and 'a resetting mechanism operable in response to the depression of theplunger, a cover disposed about said register and having an opening therein, operating means movable through said opening and including a longitudinally resilient Amember for operating said plunger, and a lock operable from outside said casingto move said icngitudinauy resilient member to resiliency depress said-plunger. i A

2. 1n combination with an electrical meter inciuding a demand type register having an outwardly biased plunger and a resetting mechanism operable in response to a momentary depression of the plunger, a casing disposed about said register and having an opening therein, an operating member including axially resilient means extending through said opening, means for resiliently biasing said operating member outward# ly at a position adjacent said plunger, a lock operable from outside said casing in response to a rotary movement for moving said operating member inwardly against its said biasing means to depress said plunger, and means for supporting said operating member and said lock on said casing.

3. In combination with an electrical meter including a demand type register having a plunger and a resetting mechanism operableV in response to the depression of the plunger, a casing disposed about said register and having an opening therein, an operating member including axially resilient means extending through said opening to a position adjacent said plunger, a lock responsive to a complete revolution of a key outside of said casing for reciprocally moving said operating means to depress said plunger, a housing for enclosing said operating member and said lock to prevent unauthorized operation thereof, and means accessible from `the inside only of said casing for securing said operating member, lock and housing to said casing.

4. In combination with an electrical meter including a demand type register having an outwardly biased plunger and a resetting mechanism operable in response to a momentary depression of the plunger, a casing disposediabout said register and having an opening therein, an operating device including an axially esilient portion extending through said .openingr means for resiliently biasing said operating with `its inner end adjacent the end of said plunger, a lock operable from outide said casing in response to a rotary movement for moving said operating device inwardly 'against its said biasing means to depress said plnger, a housing for enclosing said operating'- device, biasing means and lock to prevent unauthorized operation thereof, means accessible from the inside only of said casingv for securing said housing to said casing, and means for preventing rotation of said housing relative to said casing.

5. In combination with an electrical meter including a demand type register having a plunger and a resetting mechanism operable in response to the depression of the plunger, a cover disposed about said register and having an opening therein, a longitudinally resilient operating device slidable through said opening to operate said plunger, and means including a lock operable from outside said casing for reciprocally riovng said operating device into and out of resilient operating engagement in response to a complete rotation of a key therein.

PAUL G. ADAMS. 

